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SI 

OF DANGER AND OF PROMISE. 

DUTIES OF AMERICAN PROTESTANTS. 
AT THE PRESENT CRISIS. 

" Can ye not discern the signs of the times ?" — Jesus Christ. 



J 
BY REV. HERMAN NORTON, 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN PROTESTANT 
SOCIETY. 



PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 






NEW-YORK: 



PUBLISHED BY LEAVITT, TROW, & CO. 
194 BROADWAY. 

1845. 



The Library 
of cokgri 



,+ 



a 



,i° 



^ 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 

LEAVITT, TROW & CO. 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District 

of New-York. 



/ 



Jpp 




J. P. TROW & CO., PRiiftm*, 
33 Ann-street, New-York. 



SIGNS 
OF DANGER AND OF PROMISE. 



The past is history to be read and known 
by all men. It is irreversibly fixed. Neither 
power, nor learning, nor experience, nor bitter 
regret, nor any causes originating in heaven, 
on earth, or in hell can change it. It has re- 
ceived its impress forever. 

The future, differs essentially from the past 
in this respect ; it is yet to be, and to be writ- 
ten. Its materials will be gathered from the 
developments of moral character, made by 
free and accountable agents under the govern- 
ment of God in this world. 

It is now more than eighteen hundred years, 
since that unrivalled Apostle, Paul, said, " that 
knowing the time, that now it is high time to 
awake out of sleep," Rom. 13: 11. There 
might have been special reasons besides the 



4 SIGNS OF DANGER 

one named, ( c< salvation nearer,") that induced 
him to use this stirring language when ad- 
dressing the people of God. If those reasons 
do not exist at the present day as they existed 
eighteen centuries since, yet it is timely to 
address Christians now in the same language. 

There are things now in progress that 
should rouse a sleeping church, and an unbe- 
lieving world. Events are already casting 
their shadows that may well awaken the in- 
quiries, and researches, and prayers of the 
people of God, who are soon to exchange 
this world of toil and of prayer, for the world 
of rest and of song. 

" And that knowing the time." We are not 
to infer from this, that we are required to 
know the time in such a sense as to predict 
future events with unerring certainty. 

But while we are not required to be pro- 
phets in the high character of predicting the fu- 
ture, we may, in the light of prophecy already 
revealed, discern those movements and chan- 
ges that precede great events affecting the 
moral destiny of churches and nations. 

It is essential to Christan vigor and efficien- 
cy to 'know the time in which we live, that we 
may seize upon any favorable openings for 
spreading the triumphs of the Gospel on the 
one hand ; and on the other, may be prepared 



AND OF PROMISE. O 

to meet any fearful scenes through which we 
may be called to pass. 

At the present moment, both prophecy 
and the indications of Providence declare that 
the time is not far distant when the Gospel 
of Jesus Christ will be the acknowledged re- 
ligion of every tribe and nation — when it shall 
have subverted every false system of religion 
on the globe. But before that blessed day of 
triumph and of love shall shed its meridian 
light on the nations, there may be a conflict 
to try the faith and the patience of the people 
of God. The day of battle may precede the 
songs of victory. 

The last event in the order of prophecy, 
before the binding of Satan and the reign of 
Christ for a thousand years, was revealed by 
the Saviour to the beloved disciple in the follow- 
ing language, as uttered by John : " And I 
saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and 
their armies, gathered together to make war 
against him that sat on the horse, and against 
his army." Rev. 19: 19. 

The Protestant world are united in the be- 
lief that the beast so minutely and so vividly 
protrayed in the revelations of John and of 
Daniel, is the church of Rome. This is the 
power here represented as leading on this per- 
secuting army to this last conflict, which in- 
1* 



O SIGNS OF DANGER 

troduces the triumphant reign of Jesus Christ 
for a thousand years. This event, which the 
Christian world believe will occur at no dis- 
tant period, renders it to us, and to our children, 
a subject of more than ordinary interest. 
Whether it will be a conflict of violence, re- 
newing the sufferings and triumphs of martyrs, 
or whether it will be the warm and final con- 
test of opinions before the undisputed victory 
of truth over error, it claims the most serious 
attention of all men. 

Our youthful country now promises to be 
the great battle-field on which will be mar- 
shalled the powers of light and darkness in 
fearful order and number. Here they will 
meet with all the forces and influences that 
each can summon to its aid. The liberty of 
speech and of the press, that we now enjoy, 
make this the most favorable and desirable 
part of the world for such a contest. And 
here we trust there will yet be such a triumph 
of truth over error, of Christian love over su- 
perstition, as the world has not seen ; a tri- 
umph to be remembered and perpetuated in 
the songs of the Christian and the civilized 
world. 

But it is not the present intention to discuss 
the nature of this conflict. The design is to call 
the attention of the reader to the times in 



AND OF PROMISE. i 

which you live, or to one of the signs of the 
times with reference to our own country, i. e. 
to the present aspect of Romanism in the Unit- 
ed States. The object is not to call fire from 
heaven to consume the Romanists ; but ra- 
ther to awaken your sympathies and prayers 
for those who are deluded, and are blindly 
hastening to the retributions of another world. 
Should any regard the discussion of this 
subject as a persecution of the Roman church 
let him consider the following facts : 

1. We speak of the heathen ; their supersti- 
tions and pollutions and idolatry are spread 
out before the world for the purpose of calling 
forth the prayers and benevolent efforts of the 
people of God to send missionaries among 
them ; but this is not called persecution. 

2. We speak of the sins of the Jewish na- 
tion — of their wretched condition, as the sub- 
jects of Divine indignation for eighteen centu- 
ries, and we call on the church to pray for the 
conversion of the scattered children of Abra- 
ham ; yet this is not called persecution. 

3. We speak of the seamen, of the colored 
people, and of the Indians ; the sins, or degra- 
dation, or sufferings of each class are spread 
before the community ; but the cry of perse- 
cution is not heard on this account. 

Why is it, then, that this cry is often heard 



8 SIGNS OF DANGER 

when any thing is to be spoken of the Roman 
church ? 

Perhaps it may be because some who have 
spoken on the subject, have used the language 
of denunciation. To denounce the Romanists, 
any other class of men, is only to awaken 
prejudice and wrath, and thus prevent the con- 
viction of truth or of guilt on the mind. Such 
a course is as unwise, as it is wrong and con- 
trary to the Gospel of Christ. The writer 
has no sympathy with such exhibitions of the 
subject. 

Or perhaps some may think, as the spirit 
of retaliation is natural to the human heart, 
that we shall call upon Protestants to per- 
secute Romanists as they have persecuted 
Protestants in ages past. But this would be a 
most flagrant violation of the precepts of Jesus 
Christ, which require us " to bless those who 
curse us, and to pray for those who despiteful- 
ly entreat us and persecute us." 

Or much of the cry of persecution may 
have originated in the fact that often, when 
Romanism has been discussed, no plan has 
been suggested by which we might do good to 
that portion of our population. This cry we 
believe will die away when this subject in its 
important bearing upon our country shall be 
presented in a Christian spirit. Can the read- 



AND OF PROMISE. V 

er tell why the state of the Roman Catholic 
church should not be presented to the commu- 
nity, and should not awaken the same sympa- 
thies, the same prayers, and the same benevo- 
lent efforts that are called forth in view of any 
other class of men ? Are not the Romanists 
sinners in common with others of our race ? If 
they are ever saved, must it not be by the 
same blood of atonement that saves others ? 
This may suffice on the subject of persecution. 

Your attention will now be called, 1. To 
the present state of Romanism in the United 
States. 2. To the duties of Protestants with 
reference to it. 3. Some things of an interest- 
ing nature respecting this subject will be 
brought before you. 

It will be impossible to give you a correct 
or profitable view of Romanism in this coun- 
try, without reference to some things of rather 
a startling nature. This reference will be 
made not for the purpose of producing the im- 
pression on your mind that we are already un- 
der the dominion of a foreign power, or that 
the country is lost, but to show reasons why 
the subject should be brought before every 
American citizen. 

1. The first thing that arrests our attention 
in looking over the country, is the number of 
Romanists now in the United States, 



10 SIGNS OF DANGER 

This is estimated at two millions. Within 
the last ten years their numbers have more 
than doubled in this country. Their present 
number, suppose it to be 2,000,000, is only 
a minority of the population of the United 
States. But has not the reader read enough 
of history, and seen enough of the influence 
of small numbers, to know that the impor- 
tance of any community, does not consist in 
their number. Does not our own country fur- 
nish a striking illustration of this ? When the 
Declaration of Independence was made, there 
were only 3,000,000 of souls in this country. 
But what vital interests of civil and of reli- 
gious freedom were involved in the conduct of 
those three millions ? There will soon be 
more than three millions of Romanists here, 
and who can tell the influence they might ex- 
ert over the liberties of this country, should 
they be controlled only by those whose main 
design is to obtain political poiver ? 

Protestants should be informed, that in view 
of the Hierarchy of the Roman church, Po- 
pery is rising with more promise of success in 
England and in the United States, than in 
any other part of Christendom. Strange as it 
may appear, they have reasons for this be- 
lief. 

At a convention of ministers, held not long 



AND OF PROMISE. 11 

since in England, Dr. Croley, who wrote the 
Life and Times of George IV., stated that 
fifty years ago there were not fifty Roman 
Catholic chapels in all England and Scotland 
and Wales, while now in England alone there 
are upwards of 500. And he called upon 
Englishmen, in a very spirited address, to con- 
sider this subject now, before they might be 
called to think of it in other circumstances, 
perhaps when standing upon the scaffold. 

Surely, we should not forget that about two 
millions of men are now upon our shores from 
foreign lands, who are in the pale of the Rom- 
ish church. They are not to be despised on 
account of the fewness of their number, nor 
the feebleness of their influence ; they are not 
to be neglected, nor left to perish without a 
prayer, or a benevolent effort to save them. 
Should they be thus neglected, a fearful re- 
sponsibility will rest upon Protestants in this 
country. Such neglect might cause the God 
of nations to make them the rod in his hand 
with which he would scourge the church and 
the nation. 

2. It is not their numbers merely, but the 
manifest designs of the Popish Hierarchy, that 
demand the attention of every citizen, of eve- 
ry lover of civil and of religious liberty. 

What these designs are, we learn from 



12 SIGNS OF DANGER 

those who are familiar with them, and also 
from constant developments made by the Ro- 
man church. 

Roman Catholic priests, both in Europe 
and in the United States, who have embraced 
the Protestant faith within a few years past, 
have assured us of the designs of the Pope and 
cardinals to plant Romanism in this country, 
and to subvert our liberties. 

While the church of Rome seems to be on 
the wane in the old world, except in England, 
and while the state of things is so precarious 
in Italy that a sudden revolution may hurl the 
Pope from his tottering throne, it is natural 
that the leaders of that power should turn 
their eyes on this country, as the most prom- 
ising part of the world. Here is a broad 
territory, more than sixteen times as large as 
England and Scotland and Ireland united ! 
What a vast field is this to allure ambitious 
minds ! 

Besides this widely extended country, here 
is free toleration of religious opinions ; such 
toleration as^can be found on no other part of 
the globe. The Protestant and the Roman 
Catholic a*e alike under the protection of the 
government. So it should be, and we trust it 
always will be ; for we would most sincerely 
deprecate the day when this government 



AND OF PROMISE. 13 

should lift its persecuting arm, and let it fall 
heavily on the Roman church. We pray that 
such a day may never come. 

As it respects the designs of the Papal 
church, they are often avowed by the leaders 
of that church in such a manner that no one 
should misunderstand them. 

The editor of a Roman Catholic journal in 
Europe, speaking of the report of their missions 
at the West, says, " We must make haste — 
the moments are precious. America may one 
day become the centre of civilization, and 
shall truth or error there establish its empire ? 
If the Protestants are beforehand with us, it 
will be difficult to destroy their influence." 
That is, as he explains it, If the Protestants 
are before us in the erection of colleges and 
churches in the western country, it will be 
difficult for us to gain the ascendency, and to 
destroy their influence. 

Already has it been published in the Annals 
for the Propagation of the Faith, that within 
thirty years u heresy (i. e. Protestantism) will 
be destroyed in the United States." This is 
not the declaration of Protestants, but is pub- 
lished by the highest authority of the Roman 
Catholic church. It is published in that jour- 
nal on whose title-page is printed, " Under 
the special patronage of His Holiness Gregory 
2 



14 SIGNS OF DANGER 

XVI., and the Right Rev. Vicars Apostolic 
of Great Britain :" a journal that issues every 
two months one hundred and sixty-two thou- 
sand copies, and nine hundred and seventy- 
two thousand annually, in eight different lan- 
guages, and circulates over the globe. Ac- 
cording to this prophetic declaration, only 
twenty-two years remain at this time (1845) 
before Protestantism will be overthrown, and 
Romanism established in this country. 

In the execution of her plans, we have rea- 
son to believe the church of Rome is aided by 
some of the monarchs of Europe. This will 
more clearly appear in some facts to be stated. 
As evidence of this, we might here adduce 
the testimony of one who will not be regarded 
as prejudiced in favor of our country, or unne- 
cessarily alarmed in view of any dangers that 
may threaten us. I refer to the Duke of 
Richmond, formerly the Governor of the Can- 
adas. When he last visited Montreal, he was 
invited to a dinner, where he made a speech, 
of which the following is an extract : — " The 
government of the United States ought not to 
stand, and it will not stand ; but it will be de- 
stroyed by subversion, and not by conquest. 
The plan is this : to send over the surplus 
population of Europe ; they will go over with 
foreign views and feelings, and will form a 



AND OF PROMISE. 15 

heterogeneous mass, and in the course of time 
will be prepared to rise and subvert the gov- 
ernment." He then adds, " The church of 
Rome has a design upon that country. Po- 
pery will in time be the established religion, 
and will aid in the destruction of that republic. 
I have conversed with many of the sovereigns 
and princes of Europe, and they have unani- 
mously expressed these opinions relative to the 
government of the United States, and their 
determination to subvert it." 

This is the language of a man who speaks 
what he knows from personal conversation 
with the sovereigns of Europe. Now those 
monarchs are acting in self-defence and for 
self-preservation. Some of them may not 
have much zeal for the Roman church ; they 
may be opposed to Popery ; but they hate 
republics more. Should this fair republic 
stand for the gaze of nations — should this ex- 
periment of popular government be successful, 
not a monarch in Europe will be secure upon 
his throne. Those sovereigns are aware of 
this, and this touches the secret springs of ac- 
tion in their breasts. Hence they are ready to 
aid almost any power in the overthrow of a 
republic w T hose prosperity might be disastrous 
to them. 

Again, as to the designs of Rome upon 



16 SIGNS OF DANGER 

this country, we are informed by that church 
that societies have been organized in Europe 
for the purpose of raising funds to establish 
Romanism in the United States. 

The special attention of the reader is called 
to some facts respecting these societies. One 
thing you are particularly requested to remem- 
ber as you read, and it is this : these facts are 
not the statements of Protestants, but are col- 
lected from Roman Catholic documents, which 
have been published for the information and 
encouragement of their own people. And if 
you have doubted whether any plans have 
been formed in the old world, whose execution 
contemplates the establishment of Popery in 
the new, you are requested candidly, as a 
man, as a patriot, or as a Christian, to ponder 
well the nature, the design, and the operations 
of these various societies. 

That no one may misapprehend, or put a 
wrong construction upon the facts and state- 
ments here made, the writer would here say 
distinctly, that the sentiment is not advocated 
in this book that the Romanists have no right 
to come to this country. We have thrown 
open the door to all nations — have said to the 
world, this is the asylum for the oppressed., 
The Romanists, in common with others, have 
the privilege of accepting this invitation. 



AND OF PROMISE. 17 

They may come in virtue of it, and make 
this country their residence. Here they may 
live and here they may die, without violating 
any law, or infringing upon any privilege of 
the nation. 

As to the manner in which they should be 
treated as they arrive, the reader will know 
the views of the writer before he concludes 
this discussion. 

Let us now briefly survey the operations of 
some of the foreign societies. 

1. The Leopold society in Austria. 

The constitution of this society, as publish- 
ed by the government of Austria, is headed 
with these words : " Rules of the Institution 
erected under the name of the Leopold Foun- 
dation for aiding Catholic Missions in Ameri- 
ca, by contributions in the Austrian Empire." 
The object of this society, as stated in the first 
article of the constitution, is, "to promote the 
greater activity of Catholic Missions in Amer- 
ica." But the causes and circumstances in 
which it originated, shed sunbeams on its de- 
signs. One of the first scholars of Europe, a 
member of the Austrian cabinet, delivered a 
course of lectures in the capital, the object of 
which was to show the mutual support that 
Popery and Monarchy derive from each other. 
In this course he endeavored to show that 
2 # 



18 SIGNS OF DANGER 

Protestantism, in connection with Republican- 
ism, had been the cause that disturbed the 
governments of Europe. In the seventeenth 
lecture he says, " The true nursery of all these 
destructive principles, the revolutionary school 
for France and the rest of Europe, has been 
North America. Thence the evil has spread 
over many other lands, either by natural 
contagion, or by arbitrary communication.^ 
Hence the speedy inference, that these Pro- 
testant and republican principles in the United 
States must be put down, or there never can 
be peace in Europe. These lectures were 
delivered in the presence of the nobility of 
Austria, at Vienna, just before the formation 
of this society. 

Another cause of the formation of the soci- 
ety was, that the Vicar General of Cincinnati, 
being in Austria, published a pamphlet show- 
ing the present state of our western country. 
This representation, immediately after the lec- 
tures, contributed to the immediate organiza- 
tion of this society. It was received under 
royal protection, and sanctioned by the Pope* 
It was ordered by the Emperor of Austria, 
that a society should be formed in every par- 
ish in bis dominions, that should send in a 
weekly contribution to be forwarded to Cin- 
cinnati. You may suppose that a vast amount 



AND OF PROMISE, 19 

of money would be raised in an empire of 
twenty millions, where all are required by the 
highest authority to bring in a weekly contri- 
bution. We are not surprised that the soci- 
ety reports that it received into its treasury, 
within fifteen months after its organization, 
131,442 florins, or about $61,000 ; or that it 
could send $100,000 annually to the United 
States. Let it be remembered that this soci- 
ety is inseparably connected with the govern- 
ment. The Emperor of Austria is at the 
head of it ; Prince Metternich, Secretary of 
State, is one of its most powerful agents ; and 
the nobility are deeply interested in it. Fer- 
dinand V., King of Hungary and Crown 
Prince of the other States, is the protector of 
the society. It is organized in the capital of 
Austria, but its field of operation is the United 
States. It prepares in the seminary at Vien- 
na, and supports, a body of Jesuits who are 
organizing themselves in various sections of 
this country. Notice the order of Jesuits, who 
have been so famous, in all ages of their ex- 
istence, in effecting revolutions in govern- 
ments, are the favorites of this great govern- 
mental organization. The government of 
Buenos Ayres, although it is Roman Catholic, 
has ejected the Jesuits from its dominions 
within a few years, because they were con- 
stantly originating revolutions. 



20 SIGNS OF DANGER 

Those who think the leaders of the Roman 
church do not design to interfere with govern- 
ments, should remember the time when Texas 
was struggling for independence, when two 
Roman Catholic Bishops pledged Santa Anna 
a million of dollars to aid him in exterminating 
the inhabitants of Texas. 

The announcement of the organization of 
the Leopold society awakened the deepest 
interest at Rome. Immediately the Pope is- 
sued a Bull of Indulgence, to stimulate the 
people of Austria to contribute to its funds. 
This is an extraordinary document for the 
nineteenth century, and is an illustration of 
Popery in all ages. Usurping the place and 
the prerogative of God, the Pope promises the 
pardon of sin and free indulgence to every 
donor. One sentence from this Bull is suffi- 
cient to show this : u Therefore, trusting in 
the mercy of Almighty God, and in the au- 
thority of Peter and Paul his apostles, we 
grant to all the truly penitent co-operators in 
this society, on the day they shall be received 
into the society, full indulgence and remission 
of all their sins." 

This document, so suddenly sent forth, was 
to be efficacious in all future time. The lan- 
guage of the Pope is, " These letters we en- 
dow with perpetual efficacy ; and we order 
that the same authority be given to the copies 



AND OF PROMISE. 21 

of them, signed by the public notary, and 
sealed with the seal of the person of proper 
ecclesiastical dignity, as is given to our per- 
mission in this very diploma. 

" Dated at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the 
ring of the fisherman, on the 30th of January, 
1829, in the sixth year of our Pontificate. 
" T. Card. Bernetti." 

This Indulgence is therefore to possess the 
same power under every Pope and throughout 
all generations. It was also sanctioned by 
the Emperor, in order to give it the highest 
possible authority. The following is the 
sanction, signed by the official organ of the 
government : 

u This letter is sanctioned by the Royal 
leave. By his Sacred Imperial and Royal 
Majesty. 

" Vincentius Schubert. 

" Vienna, April 20, 1829." 

Besides the power over the conscience and 
the purse of the Austrians, given by such doc- 
uments, the tenth article of the constitution of 
this society has made provision, or has a very 
successful device, for obtaining money. This 
is stated as follows : "That the solemn mass 



22 SIGNS OF DANGER 

of the dead be said for the repose of all the 
souls of the deceased patrons and benefactors 
of this institution." Here you see the most 
powerful appeal is made to the Romanists to 
contribute to the society. Pardon of sin ! 
full indulgence ! masses for the soul after 
death ! What more could be promised to a 
deluded papist ! 

To show you how deeply interested the 
government of Austria was in this movement, 
it may here be stated that within seven days 
after the date of this Bull of Indulgence, 
Prince Metternich wrote a letter to the Bishop 
of Cincinnati, expressing the gratification of 
the Emperor of Austria at the formation of 
this society, and the cheerfulness with which 
he permits his subjects to contribute to its 
funds. The following extract from that letter 
may be a matter of interest to the reader : 

" The Emperor, firmly devoted to our holy 
religion, feels a lively joy at the accounts that 
the truth makes rapid progress in the vast 
countries of North America. Convinced of 
the irresistible power which the Catholic 
doctrine must necessarily have on simple and 
uncorrupted hearts and minds, when its truths 
are proclaimed by truly apostolical missionaries, 
his Imperial Majesty cherishes the most favor- 



AND OF PROMISE. 23 

able hopes of the pious progress which our 
holy religion will make in the United States, 
and among the Indian tribes. 

" The Emperor commissions me to say to 
your Grace, that he cheerfully allows bis peo- 
ple to contribute to the support of the Cath- 
olic churches in America, according to the 
plan laid down by our worthy Vicar General, 
Mr. Fredrick Reese." 

What this " plan " is we know not, as it has 
not been published. It was never designed 
to meet the eyes of Protestants, but is a sacred 
secret in the breasts of the Austrian cabinet, 
and of the Roman Hierarchy in this country. 

The above letter was written by Prince 
Metternich, whose character is so well known 
in the political world. This is the man of 
whom Dr. Dwight says, "that by his wonder- 
ful talent in exciting fear he has thus far con- 
trolled the cabinets of Europe, and has exerted 
an influence over the destinies of nations, little 
if any inferior to that of Napoleon ; and that he 
is regarded by the liberals of Europe as the 
greatest enemy of the human race who has 
lived for ages." 

This is the man who, for a series of years, 
has attempted to quench every spark of liber- 
ty in Europe. Would not Alexander have 
lent the power of his name and of his arms, to 



24 SIGNS OF DANGER 

aid the Greeks in their death struggles for liber- 
ty, had it not been for the interference of 
Prince Metternich ? When, about twenty 
years since, the inhabitants of Genoa, Naples, 
and Sicily, resolved to throw off the oppres- 
sions of the Papacy, did not this same Prince 
wither all their hopes by sending 30,000 Aus- 
trian troops to restore the reign of despotism ? 
And in 1831, when the Italians determined to 
rid themselves of Papal bondage, this same 
man sent among them the military force of 
Austria, and the noblest blood of Italy was 
shed, and her best citizens groaned in the 
dungeons of Venice. 

This is the man who is so deeply interested 
in the Leopold Society, that is sending large 
sums of money and numbers of Jesuit mission- 
aries to the United States ; a society that has 
been in vigorous operation for the last fifteen 
years. That it is political in its nature and 
designs, is manifest from the character of the 
men who have the management of it. That 
it aims at the overthrow of Republican and 
Protestant principles in this country, is clear, 
from the manner in which it originated, and 
the course it has pursued from its commence- 
ment to the present time. It is controlled by 
foreign monarchs who are the known enemies 
of civil and religious liberty, and is to be re- 



AND OF PROMISE. 25 

garded as one development of a great plan in 
Europe, for the destruction of this fair Repub- 
lic. 

2. The Society, For the Propagation of the 
Faith, at Lyons, France. 

This society also demands the special at- 
tention of Protestants in the United States. It 
has recently published its twenty-second annu- 
al report. 

In this report they say this society was or- 
ganized with reference to this country. " In 
the midst of the perils that surrounded the infant 
churches of the United States, their Bishops 
turned their last hopes towards Europe. The 
Association for the Propagation of the Faith, 
sprung chiefly from their pious solicitations: 1 
" The perils " that threatened the Roman 
church, are referred to in the report in the fol- 
lowing language: "The second generation 
yielded to the public feeling, and followed the 
crowd to Protestant churches. A well found- 
ed conjecture estimates the probable number 
of these defections at 3,000,000." 

The report states another reason for the 
formation of this society as follows : " The 
Holy See could not observe the commence- 
ment of a great nation, without feeling an in- 
terest in its religious destiny." 

Whether the fear of apostacy from the Ro- 
3 



26 SIGNS OF DANGER 

man church, or solicitude in the destiny of this 
nation, predominated at the origin of the socie- 
ty, the report does not inform us. It only 
assures us that each had its influence on the 
minds that formed this energetic society. 

This society sends annually large sums of 
money to Cincinnati and to other parts of the 
United States. During four years it has sent, 
according to their own reports, the following 
sums: in 1839 $65,438, in 1840 $163,000, 
in 1842 $177,000, in 1843 $207,218. 
— It has sent, therefore, in four years, the 
enormous amount of six hundred and twelve 
thousand six hundred and fifty-six dollars. 
How much more we cannot say. Previous 
to 1839, they state that the society had sent 
$160,000 to the United States in a single 
year. During 1843-4, its donations are more 
than $30,000 in advance of the largest sum 
reported on any preceding year. 

Besides this vast increase of money the 
last year, the report says: "The number of 
missionaries whose departure has been an- 
nounced during the last twelve months 
amounts to about one hundred, without count- 
ing the students and lay brothers." It has 
sent, then, about one hundred Jesuit missiona- 
ries, besides students, &c, who will soon enter 
upon the Priesthood. 



AND OF PROMISE. 27 

This society receives contributions from 
various nations. Its funds are distributed in 
Asia, in Europe, in Africa, in Oceanica and 
in America. But it is worthy of notice that 
it has sent the past year more money to this 
country than to any other great division of the 
globe. Why is it, we may inquire, that they 
have sent more money to the United States 
than to the 21,000,000 in South and Central 
America ? Why more than to the 125,000,000 
of Europe ? Are the 2,000,000 of Roman- 
ists in the United States more in need of 
aid than in any other countries ? Are they 
more ignorant and degraded than the subjects 
of the Pope in other lands ? Are the sympa- 
thies of " the Holy See" and of the Society 
for the Propagation of the Faith, on this ac- 
count, awakened on their behalf? Is this the 
reason of this enormous expenditure of money 
in the erection of colleges and school-houses 
and churches ? Who can believe it ? Who 
can be so blind as not to see in these efforts 
the developments of the plans of the Roman 
Hierarchy with reference to this country ? 
And who would so stultify himself, and impute 
such folly to Rome, as to say in view of such 
facts, she has no designs upon our country:* 
Credat qui potest. 

As the reader may be interested in knowing 



28 SIGNS OF DANGER 

how this society has distributed its funds among 
us the past year, we will give some items from 
the twenty-second annual report. 

Francs. Cts. 

For the Missions of the Redemp- 

torists in the U. States, . 55,440 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Loras, 

Bishop of Dubuque, . 27,720 

To the Right Rev. Bishop Lefe- 
vre, Coadjutor and Administra- 
tor of Detroit, . . 40,040 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Purcell, 

Bishop of Cincinnati, . 50,800 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Fenwick, 

Bishop of Boston, . . 15,400 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Kenrick, 
Coadjutor and Administrator of 
Philadelphia, . . . 6,160 

To the Right Rev. Dr. O'Con- 
nor, Bishop of Pittsburgh, 20,000 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Whelan, 

Bishop of Richmond, . 33,880 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Hughes, 

Bishop of New- York, . : 43,120 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Miles, 

Bishop of Nashville, . 21,560 

For the Missions of the Fathers of 

Mercy, New-York, . ■ 20,000 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Flaget, 

Bishop of Louisville, . 44,178 



AND OF PROMISE. 29 

Francs. Cts. 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Hialen- 

diere, Bishop of Vincennes, 67,760 

For the Congregation of Eudists, 

in the Diocese of Vincennes, 10,000 

For the establishment of the Bro- 
thers of St. Joseph at Vin- 
cennes .... 14,240 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Rosati, 

Bishop of St. Louis . 58,520 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Chances, 

Bishop of Natches, . . 12,320 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Blanc, 

Bishop of New-Orleans, . 24,640 

To the Right Rev. Dr. Portice, 

Bishop of Mobile, . , 33,600 16 

For the Diocese of Charleston, 15,400 

For the Mission of the Lazarists 

in the United States, . 46,000 

For the Missions of the Jesuits in 

the State of Missouri, . . 32,000 

For the Missions of the same So- 
ciety at the Rocky Mountains 50,000 

For the Missions of the same So- 
ciety in Kentucky and Canada, 20,000 

Travelling expenses of German 
Missionaries, going to the U. 
States, . . . 12,857 16 

For the Missions of the Lazarists 

in Texas. . . . 20,000 
3* 



30 SIGNS OF DANGER 

Let Protestants who have doubted whether 
Rome had any designs upon this country pon- 
der these statistics. Why this enlarged and 
systematic distribution of funds over our wide- 
ly extended territory ? Why are so many Jes- 
uits sustained among us by foreign money ? 
Protestants think of this ! Think of it in the 
light of history, and of prophecy ! Then 
awake, and seek the interposition of the God 
of nations. 

3. The Emigration Society, organized by 
men of wealth in Europe. 

It is called a " New Plan of a General Em- 
igration Society." The object of this soci- 
ety is to bring over the Atlantic the papal 
population of Europe, and to plant colonies 
of them in our Western States. The grand 
design of this movement is ultimately to make 
the Roman Catholic religion, the predominant 
religion of the United States. 

In the pamphlet issued when the society 
was formed, it is stated that the society will 
pay the passage of all the emigrants to this 
country and build them a house on the new 
lands free of expense.* 

It may suffice to say, that the policy of the 

* For a more particular account of this society see 
" Startling Facts for American Protestants," published at 
she Depository of American Protestant Society. 



6 



AND OF PROMISE, 31 

society is to embody the papal population to- 
gether in the West, remote from Protestant 
influence. It aims at throwing a majority 
into the great valley, and thus to control the 
destiny of the United States. 

They are very confident of success, as ap- 
pears by this document. The energy of hope 
is apparent on every page. Yes, they hope, 
they confidently anticipate the day when the 
religion and the government of the United 
States will be Roman Catholic. 

Hear this, ye Protestants who never dream 
of danger, who imagine that such a thought 
could have danced only in the brain of a luna- 
tic ! Read attentively a few quotations from 
this pamphlet, written by a Roman Catholic 
gentleman ! 

" Judge Halliburton asserts that all America 
will be a Catholic country." " The Roman 
Catholic church bids fair to rise to importance 
in America." 

" They gain constantly : they gain more by 
emigration, more by natural increase in pro- 
portion to their numbers, more by intermar- 
riages, adoption, and conversion, than Protes- 
tants. With their exclusive views of salva- 
tion, and peculiar tenets, as soon as they have 
the majority, this becomes a Catholic country, 
with a Catholic government, with the Catho- 



32 SIGNS OF BANGER 

lie religion established by law. Is this a great 
change? A greater change has taken place 
among the British, the Medes and Persians 
of Europe, the nolumus leges mutari peo- 
ple." 

Towards the close of this document is the 
following sentence in capitals : " The co-op- 
eration of other European nations in promot- 
ing the objects of the society is most desira- 
ble ; particularly of those possessing a redun- 
dant population, (i. e. Roman Catholic,) &c." 
This observation is especially applicable to 
Belgium, France, and a large portion of Ger- 
many ." 

They speak of those nations as follows : 
"The Western districts may be said to have 
a particular claim to the patronage of France, as 
it was under their former sovereignty that 
their vast resources, and facility of connexion 
between the northern lakes and the first navi- 
gable tributaries. of the Mississippi, were dis- 
covered by those enterprising and amiable 
French Jesuit missionaries, Henepin and La 
Salle. As to Belgium and Germany, it is al- 
most needless to call on them for greater sup- 
port than is already furnished by the mass of 
Catholic population daily flowing from these 
kingdoms into the fertile West. 

"In proof of this, St. Louis, risen up asii 



AND OF PROMISE. 33 

were but yesterday, in the heart of this country, 
now boasts of more than 30,000 inhabitants, 
12,000 of which are German, Belgian, French 
and Irish Catholics, mainly attracted by the 
system of education afforded by the Belgian 
Jesuits, who have not only been the means of 
establishing a magnificent cathedral in this 
city, and also a college, now classed so high 
in affording instruction, that, beyond the com- 
mendations universally bestowed on its inter- 
nal arrangements, its rules may be almost said 
to hold out the best model for diffusing gener- 
al knowledge through the West." 

As to the results, or success of this society, 
time only can disclose. It is introduced here to 
show the designs of the Roman church upon 
this country. Its organization gave a new 
impulse to the spirit of emigration. Within 
three months after it was in operation, there 
landed upwards of 40,000 Romanists in the 
city of New- York, who went on immediately 
to the West. And in about six weeks subse- 
quent to this, more than 14,000 arrived at 
New- York on their way to the West. The 
number of emigrants who landed at Quebec, 
New-York, Philadelphia and New-Orleans, 
within a year after its organization, has been 
estimated at 200,000 who went on to the 
Western valley,, 



34 SIGNS OF DANGER 

Other societies are reported as existing in 
various parts of Europe, whose funds and en- 
ergies are expended to establish Romanism in 
this country. But we will not call the atten- 
tion of the reader to any other at the present 
time. 

Besides the sums remitted by these socie- 
ties, money flows bountifully from other sources 
in foreign countries, for the purpose of lay- 
ing the foundations of papal influence deep 
and strong in the United States. As evidence 
of this, you may read the report of a Roman 
Catholic Priest, who was an agent in Europe 
for the purpose of collecting funds for the Ro- 
man church in this country. This is his ac- 
count of donations received from different so- 
cieties and distinguished personages in various 
parts of Europe. 

He received, 

Francs. 

From the King of France, 4,000 

" the King of Holland, 7,085 
" the Emperor of Russia, 20,000 
" the Emperor of Austria, 20,000 
" the King of Sardinia, 6,192 
" his Holiness the Pope, 20,000 
« the Grand Duke of Tus- 
cany, * 11,474 
iC the Duchess of Lucca, 5,100 
" sundry individuals &c«, 29,19^ 



AND OF PROMISE. 35 

This may show you how extensively the 
monarchs of Europe are acting in concert 
with Rome in aiding her designs upon this 
country, and how deeply they are interested 
in her success. And let it here be remember- 
ed that this is not a recent report. It is of 
more than twenty years standing. It was 
made in 1823. 

In view of this, is it not high time for Prot- 
estants in this country " to awake out of sleep ? 
While we have been reposing in the most pro- 
found slumbers, dreaming of security and of 
the perpetuity of our institutions, the wakeful 
eyes of Europe have been intensely fixed upon 
us, and our unsuspecting insensibility has sent 
a secret thrill of joy through the breasts of car- 
dinals and monarchs who have been plotting 
our ruin during this long night of sleep. 

Within a few months past the Pope has 
made a donation to the Romanists in the city 
of Milwaukie in Wiskonsan Territory of sev- 
enty-two thousand dollars ; an amount larger 
than Protestants will soon raise to send mis- 
sionaries, Bibles, books, and tracts, to the in- 
habitants of that territory. 

In Monroe City, Michigan, the Jesuits 
have recently secured a large amount of pro- 
perty for three hundred years to come. Two 
Jesuit priests have within a few weeks gone 
to Europe to secure the funds and the men 



36 SIGNS OF DANGER 

for establishing two large institutions in that 
place. 

Besides the funds sent over from Europe, 
there is another view to be taken of these op- 
erations. Their schools in this country are 
designed for the education of Protestant chil- 
dren, i. e. for their conversion to the Roman 
Catholic faith. The net has been spread, and 
it is almost incredible to see with what facili- 
ty the children of Protestants have been gath- 
ered into it. Thousands of such children are 
now under the care of Romish teachers, re- 
ceiving their impressions and views of Ro- 
manism and Protestantism, from those who 
are sworn to sustain the Pope. Why is it 
that Rome here warmly advocates the cause 
of education, and overlooks the necessities of 
her own children, leaving them in ignojance, 
while she kindly throws her arms around ours ? 
Let these children grow up under such in- 
structions, and in a few years hence these pa- 
rents, with hearts overwhelmed with grief, 
will know why it is. This apparent kindness 
may not be unlike the kindness of the image 
or statue of the Virgin, that Bonaparte found 
in the dungeons of Spain, who stretched forth 
her arms to embrace, and pressed the victim 
to her breast, cutting him into a thousand 
pieces. 



AND OF PROMISE. 37 

The Romanists inform us that they are 
often in advance of Protestants in the erection 
of churches, colleges, and seminaries, and 
school -houses in the West — that they antici- 
pate the population, and prepare for their re- 
ception. When they report three thousand 
pupils in the higher seminaries of learning, 
we are informed that many, or the majority, 
are from Protestant families. In one Institu- 
tion in Kentucky where there were upwards 
of ninety students, only seven of them were 
from Roman Catholic families. 

They also report forty-four churches and 
chapels built in the United States during 
1843. While some of these have cost 
$100,000, others have costless. The sum 
total we cannot definitely state. But sup- 
posing that, on an average, each cost only 
$20,000, the amount would be $880,000, 
according to their own showing, expended in 
the erection of churches in a single year. — 
Many of these are built of stone, large and 
strong, designed to stand in future ages, as 
monuments of the strength and wealth of 
Rome, when " Protestant churches have rot- 
ted down," and are remembered only as the 
flashy efforts of the Pilgrims. 

Such things, let the reader remember, the 
Roman church informs us that she is doing 
4 



38 SIGNS OF DANGER 

in foreign lands and in this country. As we 
have no evidence to prove these statements 
to be false, we are bound to receive them as 
correct. They are spread out before you not 
merely for the purpose of alarm, nor to make 
the impression on your mind that we are al- 
ready under the dominion of the Pope ; nor 
to awaken despair for the safety of the coun- 
try, or the salvation of the Romanists. But 
they are adduced to show that we have some 
cause for action on this subject. It is too 
late in the progress of Popery among us, to 
say, " this is a matter that does not concern 
us." 

We and our children have a vital interest 
in it. Should we continue to slumber over 
it, we may be roused when the golden and 
silver chains that have been forged for us in 
Europe shall be around us with the strength 
of iron. Yes! should we sleep on, for years 
to come, as we have in time past, we may- 
leave our children in the midst of painful 
scenes, which our fidelity and wakefulness, 
with the blessing of God, might have pre- 
vented. 

That the Hierarchy of the Romish church 
have high expectations of ultimate success, 
may appear from an article recently published 
in a paper under the supervision of the Ro- 



AND OF PROMISE. 39 

man Bishop in this city. This article traces 
the rapid progress of " the American church," 
as it is denominated, from the beginning of its 
history in the United States to the present 
time. It confirms the facts brought to view 
in these pages, that the Roman church owes 
her prosperity in this country to foreign aid. 
It demonstrates her arrogance, her high claims, 
and her folly, that she should presume, in this 
Protestant country, to style herself " the 
American church." It reads as follows: 

" The American Catholic has much reason 
to rejoice in the rapid progress of his holy re- 
ligion throughout the States and Territories of 
our Republic. At first, the progress of the 
American church was slow ; so many causes 
existed to check her onward course. 

" A few years since and the Catholic church 
of the United States consisted of but one 
Bishopric, a few weak and scattered Catholic 
settlements, and a mere handful of ecclesiasti- 
cal laborers, to supply the pressing wants of 
an immense section of country; she was with- 
out revenues and destitute of resources except 
a firm reliance upon the protecting and fostering 
hand of her Divine founder. In this helpless 
state she became dependent upon foreign zeal 
and liberality, and had it not been for the apos- 
tolic spirit of the Catholic ministry of other 



40 SIGNS OF DANGER 

lands, her widely extended fields had been, 
almost, if not entirely, without laborers. 

" Those who then had the direction of the 
infant American church despaired not, ,bu: 
hoped and labored on, and truly not in vain, 
if we regard the lofty and comely edifice 
which has sprung from such small beginnings, 

" The Catholic church, or that portion of the 
church universal which lies within this prov- 
ince, now includes a Catholic population of, 
at least, 1,300,000* souls, comprised within 22 
Bishoprics, and governed by a Hierarchy of 
26 Bishops, including the Titular with their 
coadjutor Prelates. The number of her 
churches is 675, and of her Priests 709. Her 
Ecclesiastical Seminaries already number 22, 
and her chartered Universities and Colleges 
15. We do not here enumerate her societies 

* The number of 1,200,000 was published by Bishop 
England in 1838, as the Roman Catholic population in the 
United States. Bishop Rosati, of St. Louis, published the 
number at Rome, in 1842, to be 1,500,000. But for the 
last two or three years, 1,300,000 has been the stereotyped 
number. The thousands who have annually arrived, have 
not increased the papal population, according to these sta- 
tistics. In 1845, the Metropolitan, published under the 
eye of' 4 the Archbishop of the United States," reduces the 
number to 1,071,800. Do we not read in these efforts to 
create doubt and perplexity as to numbers, some misgivings 
as to strength and ultimate success, or a disposition to di- 
minish their numbers here, and to swell them an the cthe? 
side the Atlantic ? 



AND OF PROMISE, 41 

of religious ladies engaged in every good and 
useful work, besides her numerous other insti- 
tutions of charity and benevolence. Improve- 
ments, too, in all other respects, keep even 
pace with the vast increase of her Prelates, 
Clergy, and Temples of worship. The addi- 
tions, which the last ten years have made to 
this goodly summary, are peculiarly a ground 
of encouragement and hope for the future. 

" Within that period nine new dioceses have 
been formed, and twelve additional Prelates 
consecrated, in accordance with the wants of 
the American church. The number of her 
Priestly laborers has been increased by 382, 
and 403 additional Temples of worship invite 
the attendance of her children. 

" We might extend this brief summary of the 
glorious progress of the Catholic cause through- 
out our free and happy country. Our object, 
however, is not so much to exult over the 
past, as to remind our Catholic readers of the 
creat causes of thankfulness to which it seems 
appropriate to recur at this period of entrance 
upon the events of the new year. 

" That reliance upon Providence, so mani- 
fest in the hopeful endurance and patient labor 
of the pioneers of the present ecclesiastical 
body, taken in connexion with the great pro- 
gress of the church, teaches us a salutary les- 
4# 



42 SIGNS OF DANGER 

son. From a zealous continuance of the same 
efforts and labors new fruits will spring, and 
the great Catholic cause advance among us 
with mightier and more rapid strides, by virtue 
of the promise, Behold, 1 am with you all 
days, even to the consummation of the world" 
There is one important reason why the sub- 
ject of Romanism should be brought forward 
by Ministers of the Gospel of all evangelical 
denominations. This is, the peculiar attitude 
of the American press. The sepulchral silence 
of the vast majority of political Editors on this 
subject, is notorious and ominous, Such is 
the state of political parties, that the political 
press, with some noble exceptions, is either 
silent in this matter, or speaks in such a man- 
ner, as to favor the influence of Romanism. 
Yes, the press, that most effective power to 
rouse the. public mind, is silent on a subject 
that involves our dearest rights and privileges, 
when it should speak out in tones of thunder 
and of love. A gentleman who has visited 
about two hundred political Editors in the 
United States, for the purpose of persuading 
them to publish well authenticated extracts 
from history, showing the influence of Ro- 
manism on governments, and articles of a tem- 
perate character on that subject, stated that 
only about twenty out of two hundred would 



AND OF PROMISE. 43 

consent to publish any thing on this subject. 
True, the religious papers of the country are 
lifting the warning voice, but it should be re- 
membered that only a minority of the citizens 
of these states ever see a religious paper. 
They have not therefore the means of infor- 
mation. They are ignorant of the nature and 
designs of Romanism, and are not aware of its 
extent and influence in this country. Hence 
the imperious call upon Ministers of the Gos- 
pel to publish these things from the heights of 
Zion. 

But Ministers of the Gospel are called to 
speak on this subject by higher considerations 
than the state of the press. The Apostle 
says, " If thou put the brethren in remem- 
brance of these things, thou shalt be a good 
minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the 
words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto 
thou hast attained." 1 Tim. 4. 6. The things 
referred to in this passage are the characteristics 
of the Roman apostacy, such as " forbidding 
to marry, and commanding to abstain from 
meats, which God hath created to be received 
with thanksgiving," &c. According to this 
injunction, the faithfulness of the Minister in 
exhibiting these things to the church, would 
be a test of his fidelity to Jesus Christ. 

That this subject demands the attention of 



44 SIGNS OF DANGER 

Ministers of the Gospel, we know from the 
fact that it fills so many pages of the inspired 
volume. We are not prepared to charge God 
with folly because he has so fully and vividly 
revealed to us the character and the influence of 
this antichristian power, and challenged our 
attention to it, saying, " If any man have an 
ear, let him hear." Rev. 13. 9. We are 
taught that " All scripture is given by inspi- 
ration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness." 2 Tim. 3. 16. 

If " all scripture is profitable," surely this 
is, which so minutely describes the origin and 
causes of those events which have agitated 
and at times convulsed the world for more 
than a thousand years ; events which, before 
the last death-struggles of the beast have 
ceased, may yet severely tax the sympathies 
of men, and try the faith of the people of God. 

When this subject, therefore, is discussed in 
the pulpit, it is not broaching a new theory, 
that may be true or may be false. It is as 
old as prophecy, and one in which we and 
our descendants are deeply interested. There 
is an imperious call for instruction on this 
subject at the present day. It is needed to 
enlighten the minds of Protestants, and to 
establish them in the faith of the gospel, for 



AND OF PROMISE. 45 

many in this country have been drawn away 
from that faith in ignorance. It is needed to 
guard the rising generation against the seduc- 
tive influence of Romanism. Pastors and 
Parents and Sabbath-school Teachers, should 
faithfully co-operate with each other in this 
work of instruction. 

Should any think that Ministers of the Gos- 
pel may be unnecessarily alarmed on this 
subject, then listen to the voice of a states- 
man who is revered alike by Romanists and 
by Protestants. This is no less a personage 
that Gen. La Fayette. He said to a gentle- 
man yet living in this country, during his last 
interviews with him at Paris, and charged 
this gentleman to tell his countrymen — " If 
ever the liberty of this Republic is destroyed, 
it will be by Romish Priests." This deserves 
the serious consideration of all, as Gen. La 
Fayette was a member of the Roman Catho- 
lic church, and was buried on consecrated 
ground. But whatever might have been his 
attachment to that church, he loved this Re- 
public. He remembered the toils and the 
sacrifices of his youth, when he stood by the 
side of Washington, strii£trlino; to achieve the 
independence of this country ; and he could 
not endure the thought of an influence com- 
ing in among us, that might take from us the 



46 SIGNS OF DANGER 

precious liberties we now enjoy. Let not the 
warning voice of this beloved man die away 
on the ear, and perish from the memory of 
the American people. 

A few facts for those ivho think there is no 
danger ; who think that the political influ- 
ence of Popery is very limited in this coun- 
try, and cannot be increased to any consid- 
erable extent. 

A few years since, at the commencement 
of the Jesuit College at Georgetown, D. C, 
a dinner, as is usual on such occasions, was 
given in honor of the College. Mr. Eccles- 
ton, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic 
church in the United States, was there in his 
official robes. Distinguished Protestants were 
present. The Archbishop, and Mr. Mulledy 
the President of the College, made speeches 
on the occasion. So also did Mr. George 
Washington P. Custis, Mr. Seaton, editor of 
the Intelligencer, and Major General Mc- 
Comb, at that time Commander in Chief of 
the American Army in the United States. 

Mr. Seaton not only made a speech, but 
gave a toast in honor of the Jesuits, as an 
order of men devoted for three centuries to 
religion and learning. 



AND OF PROMISE. 47 

General McComb gave the following 
loast : — "The health of the Pope and pros- 
perity to the Catholic religion." 

Charity would lead us to impute to the Gen- 
eral the sin of ignorance in offering such a 
sentiment; for every intelligent Protestant 
knows that the prosperity of the Roman Cath- 
olic religion in this country would be the entire 
overthrow of our Republican government. 
Ignorance of the true nature of that relic-ion, 
and of the perils of the country attending its 
success, only can acquit the General from the 
charge of treason in the verdict of an intelli- 
gent posterity. 

But who 5 in view of such a fact, can say 
that Romanism has little or no political influ- 
ence among us ? Who can say so, when the 
highest military officer in the United States 
could offer such a toast in the presence of the 
Archbishop of the Roman church. Did not 
the General know that this toast would go to 
Rome as quick as winds or steam could bear 
it? Who can say it has little influence, when 
the editor of a leading paper at the head of 
government, sends throughout the country his 
praise of the Jesuits. 

Now look at some other facts. The high- 
est judicial officer in the United States, the 
Chief Justice, is a Roman Catholic. Recent- 



48 SIGNS OF DANGER 

ly, two daughters of General Scott have taken 
the white veil as a token of .their submission 
to the See of Rome, and of their veneration 
for the Roman Catholic church. Gen. Scott 
is the Commander in Chief of the army of the 
United States. 

The sister of President Tyler has united 
with the Roman Catholic church at Wash- 
ington. At a recent examination of the young 
ladies in the Roman Catholic seminary at 
Georgetown, President Tyler, a Priest, and a 
Nun were published as the distributors of pre- 
miums to the young ladies. 

Already has the novel and astounding spec- 
tacle been presented in this country, of a 
Protestant government employing a Roman 
Priest as chaplain in the Congress of the United 
States. Think of this ; the representatives 
of this great nation, by their own voluntary 
action, set aside the entire Protestant min- 
istry, (not to say insulted it,) by appointing a 
man to officiate in the highest places of gov- 
ernment, who prays to the Virgin Mary — who 
has sworn to sustain the Pope and to oppose 
every form of government that does not ac- 
knowledge the Pope as supreme head. Oh, 
ye spirits of the Pilgrims ! where are ye ? 

A lawyer in Michigan, in writing to a friend 
in this city, says : " The Catholics in this 



AND OF PROMISE. 49 

county have succeeded at our last election, 
and have elected their own candidates through- 
out the county, even where they were not the 
majority. And it was done in this way. On 
the Sabbath preceding the election the Priests 
throughout the county requested the men in 
their congregations to remain after the service. 
The Priests then told them the election would 
take place on such a day, and such and such 
men are candidates, and you must vote for them. 
I have the tickets and they will now be dis- 
tributed, and if you do not vote these, it will 
be known. On the day of election, the infi- 
dels voted with the Catholics, and elected 
Roman Catholic officers in this county." 
This was not the last Presidential election. 

The following amusing, supremely ludicrous, 
yet awful occurrence, was related to the writer 
by a gentleman of unquestionable veracity : 
" 1 will tell you," said he, "of a fact with which 
I am acquainted. Incredible as it may ap- 
pear, I know all about it. I know the men 
who were concerned in it. It shows what 
men will do for political purposes. Two men 
died in this town who were members of the 
Roman Catholic church. They had done 
something that very much displeased the 
Priest, so much so that he refused to admin- 
ister extreme unction to them before death, 
5 



50 SIGNS OF DANGER 

according to the custom of that church. Their 
friends came to him after death, desiring prayers 
for the souls of these men that they might be 
released from purgatory. The Priest refused 
to pray for them and said they might stay there 
and suffer. 

" This greatly disturbed the minds of their 
friends. A petition was immediately drawn 
up, circulated, and signed by many Romanists,- 
to send over to the Pope to obtain a dispen- 
sation for these two men. And what do you 
think when I tell you I know the names of 
Protestants who signed that petition ? They 
did it from political motives.' 5 

Such facts are the thermometer by which 
w r e may decide the temperature, or political 
influence of Romanism among us. 

Shaft it be written that the liberties of the 
American people are in the market and are 
offered to the highest bidder ? 

Such a statement may be treated with con- 
tempt, or as originating in a brain better fitted 
for a lunatic asylum, than to express an opin- 
ion respecting the times in which we live. 
But it will not be thus regarded in the sober 
judgment of men who are acquainted with 
the facts in the case, and who only are com- 
petent to give an opinion on the subject. 

Politicians of all parties know this to be the 



AND OF PROMISE. 51 

case. Do they not know of cases of most 
awful bribery ? Do they not know that money 
has been offered and paid to secure the votes 
of the Romanists in our popular elections ? 
Can they not tell us of an instance where one 
party has paid a certain amount of money in 
order to secure the votes of this people — 
where the other party came forward after- 
wards, paid a larger sum, and received the 
votes of the Romanists at the ballot box ? 
Are none aware that the first party were sadly 
disappointed and chagrined, but were com- 
pelled to be silent in self-defence ? 

In view of such facts, well known to politi- 
cians in this country, who cannot see that our 
liberties are in the market, awaiting the hour 
when they will be knocked down to the high- 
est bidder? And are there none who are ac- 
quainted with such doings, whose hearts burn 
with the love of country, who have the moral 
courage and the integrity to come forth and 
state the facts to the American people ? 

We inquire further, are there none who can 
disclose to us other vitally important mat- 
ters ? Is there no one who can tell whether a 
correspondence has been held with the Cabinet 
of Austria, or of any other Foreign Power, for 
the purpose of securing the votes of the Ro- 
man church in the Presidential election of 



52 SIGNS OF DANGER 

1840 or 1844 ? Without charging upon either 
party a correspondence so humiliating, so 
base and so treacherous, we inquire whether 
there is no man familiar with the facts, who 
has the independence and the manliness to 
spread them out before the community ? Such 
a man would not only render eminent service 
to his country at the present crisis, but he 
would receive the warmest gratitude of mil- 
lions in this Republic. The name of such a 
man would go down to posterity covered with 
honor, when the names of demagogues will be 
buried in infamy. May the day be hastened, 
when every man who claims to be an Ameri- 
can citizen, shall act in such a manner as shall 
correspond with his high obligations and his 
distinguished privileges. May the day be 
nigh when the eyes of Protestants shall open 
upon the perils of the country, and when they 
shall seek and secure the only remedy. 

II. Let us now inquire into the duty of 
Protestants in view of the present state of 
things in this country. Surely, there are du- 
ties of a most important character, and of the 
deepest responsibility, at the present crisis. 

I. First of all, we require some system of 
operation that will secure the united action of 
all Protestants in the United States. 

The strength and stability of our efforts will 



AND OF PROMISE. 53 

correspond with the extent and cordiality of 
our union. No individual denomination of 
Protestants can succeed in such an enterprise 
as the times demand. It would be regarded 
as sectarian, and not as Protestant or Chris- 
tian. It would excite the jealousy or oppo- 
sition of other portions of the Protestant com- 
munity, and being single-handed, would not 
command respect and confidence to any con- 
siderable extent. 

But let every division of the Protestant 
churches be summoned to this work, and they 
will possess all the strength and the unity of 
one undivided army. Blessed be God, Pro- 
testantism contains the germs of such a union. 
The points of difference between the various 
denominations of Protestants are small when 
compared with the gulf between them and 
the Romanists. Protestantism, or Christiani- 
ty, is a system of salvation by faith in Jesus 
Christ, and by grace, while Romanism is a 
system of salvation by the virtue of human 
works and human sufferings. Such being the 
facts in the case, a kind and Christian course 
of action can be secured among all Protes- 
tants. 

The American Protestant Society promises 
a union of such men and such principles as the 
times demand. It embraces all the Evangel- 
5* 



54 SIGNS OF DANGER 

ical denominations in the United States. It 
also numbers among its friends, men of each 
of the great political parties of our country. 
Light and love are the weapons it wields both 
with respect to Protestants and Romanists. 
May it be as the oasis, or green spot of our 
country, in the midst of the desert of reli- 
gious and political controversy, where the 
lovers of the country, the lovers of civil and 
religious liberty, and all who desire to enlight- 
en and save the ignorant, can meet together, 
and labor and pray. 

One of the blessed and promising signs of 
the times is, that where the subject of associ- 
ated effort is presented, a chord is touched that 
vibrates in every Christian and in every Pro- 
testant heart. Protestants begin to feel they 
are one in this cause. God may be about to 
perform a wonderful work. In the 16th 
century, the Roman Catholic church was the 
occasion of dividing the Christian world into 
various sects. Should God employ that same 
church in the 19th century to effect a union 
of action among all Protestants, it will be an- 
other proof that he " is excellent in counsel, 
and wonderful in working. 7 ' Such are the indi- 
cations of his providence ; such is the tendency 
of the present state of things. When Pro- 
testants look at this subject, their minor points 



AND OF PROMISE^ 55 

of difference vanish, and they find them- 
selves standing on common ground where they 
and their children have a common interest. 

They should unite, not only because they 
can rally around the same standard, but on 
account of the vital interests involved. It is 
a question of civil and of religious liberty. It 
is whether the word of God shall be circulated 
and read by the entire community, or wheth- 
er it shall be suppressed, and shall prophesy 
in sackcloth and in ashes. It is whether we 
shall take up our retrograde march towards the 
dark ages, or whether the light of truth shall 
illumine every dwelling and every heart. 

In the review of the past, we can often see 
the very hinge on which turned the destiny of 
a nation. And how important to us is the cri- 
sis in the review ! We are ready to say., 
" Oh ! if we had lived at that time, how deep- 
ly we should have felt, how vigorously we 
should have acted !" Such a crisis we can see 
in the Roman Empire, when Theodosius the 
Emperor put the question to the Roman Sen- 
ate, " Shall Jupiter or Christ be the worship 
of the Roman people ?" We believe there 
was a vast difference between those objects 
of worship, and that their choice would make 
a vast difference in the character and in the 
destiny of the Roman nation. Such was the 



56 SIGNS OF DANGER 

fact. Idolatry was overthrown and Chris- 
tianity was established by that decision, 

Is the difference any less now, or is the 
question any less important, whether Roman- 
ism or Christianity shall be the religion of the 
American people ? Is not the crisis as essen- 
tial to civil and religious liberty, and is it not 
as critical at the present moment ? Is not the 
subject of such paramount importance as to 
unite in one solid phalanx the entire Protes- 
tant community, throughout the length and 
breadth of our land ? If there is not enough 
of the love of country among us, of the love 
of civil and religious liberty, of the love of 
the word of God, in view of facts and of recent 
developments, thus to unite the Protestantism 
of the country — in vain may we hope for such 
a union in future ages. If such a bond can- 
not now be found, we are in danger of falling 
in pieces. 

2. As it respects our duty, we should meet 
the Romanists as they land on our shores, not 
with the spirit of reproach and of denunciation^ 
but in the spirit of kindness and of Christian 
love. 

"Love" says the word of God, u worketh 
no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the ful- 
filling of the law." We have yet, my dear 
reader, to learn the power of love in this war- 



AND OF PROMISE. 57 

fare. Other weapons may be powerless, or 
may be rendered abortive. Should we wield 
only the weapons of angry controversy or of 
fierce denunciation, the Romanists could meet 
us there. Should we use any kind of man- 
agement or of intrigue, they have weapons by 
which they can meet and resist such modes of 
attack. But there is nothing in the armory of 
Rome to meet the power of love. This 
heavenly weapon, love, disarms prejudice — 
subdues enmity, wins enemies, and converts 
them into friends. The human heart can re- 
sist successfully every influence but love. 
Even the law of God with its awful sanctions 
may send its peals of wrath over the soul, but 
the hard heart will only grow harder, until 
the love of God in Christ is seen ; then it 
melts, and the tiger becomes a lamb. 

Now the question comes up, How shall we 
awaken a spirit of love and compassion 
towards the Romanists ? A different spirit has 
sometimes been exhibited, and the cause of 
Pretestantism has suffered by it, and the wall 
of prejudice has increased in height and in 
strength. 

One way to call forth the spirit of love 
towards them, is to remember that the great 
mass of Romanists are in utter darkness and 
ignorance, They are not suffered to exercise 



58 SIGNS OF DANGER 

their own judgment. The light of truth never 
shone upon their minds. They are the sub- 
jects of the most fearful superstitions, and 
are controlled by those whose present interest 
it is to keep them in the most profound igno- 
rance of the word of God and the way of sal- 
vation by Jesus Christ. They are, reader, as 
you would have been under the same circum- 
stances. They are therefore more deserving 
of our sympathies and our prayers than of se- 
vere censure. The inquiry, " Who hath made 
you to differ from them 1" should awaken in 
every heart a sense of obligation to God who 
hath caused the difference. 

When, therefore, you call to mind their de- 
graded and perishing and slavish condition, 
does it awaken no kind feeling towards them ? 
And are you not willing to show kindness by 
putting into their hands the word of God, and 
tracts and books by which their minds might 
become enlightened ? 

But here comes up the objection with 
which many try to do away all responsibility 
in this work — " It will do no good." How do 
you know? Have you made the experiment? 
Have you gone to your Roman Catholic 
neighbor in the spirit of kindness, and offered 
him a tract, or a book, or a Bible ? When he 
refused to receive it, have you retired to pray 



AND OF PROMISE. 59 

for him, and then repeated your visit ? When 
he again refused, did you pray for him again ? 
Have you done so week after week ? If you 
have not, it is too early to say, " It will do no 
good." 

But you say in reply, They always have re- 
fused tracts, and books, and Bibles, and there- 
fore they always will. 

Is this so ? Is there to be no advance on 
the past ? Are there to be no new triumphs 
of the Gospel as it goes forward for the con- 
quest of the nations ? How then is the world 
to be converted ? 

But have you not learned, beloved reader, 
that it will not always answer to reason from 
the past in these days ? Suppose you reason 
thus about the temperance reformation, and 
where are you? How long is it since the en- 
tire race of drunkards were abandoned to hope- 
less ruin ? Who thought of seeking the recov- 
ery of a drunkard, and of thus pouring the oil 
of joy into the hearts of wives, that were 
crushed with grief, and of wiping the tears 
from those who are worse than orphan children ? 

What would you think of the man who 
should now say, " Drunkards never have been 
reformed, and therefore never can be ?" Is it 
true that none of these men can be made to 
stand erect among their fellow-men ? 



60 SIGNS OF DANGER 

So of the Jews. The idea that they would 
read the New Testament or be converted to 
Christianity, has been regarded as only vis- 
ionary and hopeless. — But facts are begin- 
ning to give form, and substance, and reality to 
this idea. 

So of the German population in this coun- 
try. The reader has doubtless heard of, if he 
has not known, something of the ignorance and 
the superstition of this large class of men. 
How often have Christians said in Pennsylva- 
nia, where large masses of these men reside, 
a There is no more hope of the conversion of 
these German Reformed and German Luthe- 
ran people, than there is in the conversion of 
the Roman Catholics." 

But how is it now ? Has not the Spirit of 
the Lord visited the Germans, and within a 
few years hopefully converted not only hun- 
dreds, but thousands of those ignorant men ? 

Finally, we bless God that the day has 
come when the Romanists begin to receive 
the word of God, and tracts, and books, and 
to read them. 

They are beginning to feel the influence of 
liberty in this country. Some dare to think 
and to act for themselves. They say, " We 
live in a land of liberty, and we have a right 
to read what books we please." Some begin 



AND OF PROMISE. 61 

to exercise this right, and this is contagious. 
This is the spirit we wish to encourage among 
them. We desire them to believe and to act 
as men and as freemen in this country. We 
wish them distinctly to understand, that 
they will be sustained in reading the Bible or 
any book, both by law and by the public sen- 
timent of the community. We wish them to 
know that no man, or Priest, or Bishop, has 
any right to prevent them from reading any 
book they may choose to read. We wish 
them to be assured that in pursuing this inde- 
pendent course, they will gather around them 
the sympathy and support of this entire nation. 

Recent events might be adduced to il- 
lustrate this rising spirit of liberty, which 
prophesies of entire deliverance from spiritual 
tyranny. 

Not long since, in one part of our country, 
the Roman Priest called together his large 
congregation for the purpose of spreading out 
before them the rules of their church, as he 
thought they did not observe them as strictly 
as they ought. While he was addressing 
them^one of the members of the church rose 
and addressed him in this way : " Ah ! Fa- 
ther M., you forget we are not in the old coun- 
try now, we are in America now •" thus giv- 
ing him to understand they should not keep 
6 



62 SIGNS OF DANGER 

these rules as rigidly here as they had in 
the old country. 

The burning of the Bible by Roman Priests 
in this country has not consumed the spirit of 
liberty in the breasts of Romanists. The re- 
sults of that conflagration have not been disas- 
trous to the cause of liberty and of Protestant- 
ism. Those burning leaves have shed light 
on the darkness of Popery, and also on the 
path of duty, both for the patriot, and the 
Christian. From the very ashes of God's holy 
word has the desire to read it sprung up — a 
desire never to be extinguished. Yes, there were 
Romanists standing in that circle around the 
burning Bibles, gazing upon the flame, whose 
minds at that hour were deeply impressed 
with the wickedness of Roman Priests who 
could kindle such a fire, and with their own 
wickedness also, whose eyes have been open- 
ed to see the truth, and who have fled from 
Rome. 

See the same spirit of independence rising 
in Ohio. The Roman Bishop of that state, 
threatened to remove a certain Priest from 
his congregation, but they were opposed to 
his removal. They did not hesitate to ex- 
press their opposition to the Bishop. The 
following petition was draw T n up, and signed 
by forty-eight members of the Roman Catho- 
lic congregation : 



AND OF PROMISE. 63 

/ 

" We the undersigned declare, in the name 
of the majority of our congregation, that if the 
Right Rev. Bishop think it fit for the glory of 
God to remove our innocent pastor by sup- 
porting his enemies, a company of drunkards 
and wicked men, we shall afterward never 
more support this church, nor any other Priest, 
nor attend the service in the church, and we 
shall renounce the obedience and subordina- 
tion to the Bishop, and live independent. 

" The same example will be followed by two 
large congregations more. We have been 
contented with the Priest who was sent to us 
as pastor, and we always obeyed the Bishop. 
It shall afterward no more be the case with 
us, if our humble petition should be despised 
in favor of some malcontent." 

" The fruits of this spirit of liberty are now 
to be seen. That same Priest is now preach- 
ing the Protestant faith, and has left the Ro- 
man church for ever. How many of his con- 
gregation have followed him, the writer is not 
able to say. But let this spark of liberty be 
kindled into a flame, and it will burn up the 
tyranny and the terror of Rome over her degra- 
ded subjects. The leaven is already working in 
the breasts of her members that may yet 
spread over large masses in our country, and 
joyfully burst their chains for ever. 

Protestants should not only diffuse light 



64 SIGNS OF DANGER 

among the Romanists, but they should pray for 
their conversion. They can be converted to 
God as well as other men. Why is it, we 
may inquire, that they are not converted in 
large numbers ? 

One important reason is, that Christians 
have not prayed for their conversion. This 
is a most humiliating fact. And where is the 
professor of religion that cannot find most mel- 
ancholy evidence of it in his own experience ? 
How then could these men have been convert- 
ed ? You do not believe that men are con- 
verted to God without the agency of the 
Holy Spirit. The Spirit you believe is sent 
down in answer to prayer. How then could 
these men have been converted ? again we in- 
quire. It must have been either by miracle, 
or God must have gone beyond the ordinary 
range of his mercy to have converted them. 

How can you account for the almost incred- 
ible fact, that a portion of the human race, 
more than double the number of the Protes- 
tant world, should not be made the daily sub- 
jects of prayer ? 

This may be attributed to two causes. 
The one is the low state of vital piety in the 
church, or the absence of a spirit of prayer. 
The other, wrong views of the position of the 
great mass of the Roman church. Protes- 
tants, in view of those predicted judgments that 



AND OF PROMISE. 65 

are to fall on this antichristian power, have 
been looking for the destruction rather than 
the salvation of the Romanists. They have 
regarded them as doomed to perdition. 

The time may come, and we believe will 
come, when judgments will visit this corrupt 
power. The burning words of prophesy can- 
not be so spiritualized as to scatter the clouds 
of vengeance that rise over Rome. The time 
may come when that which may be denomi- 
nated the Popery of the Roman Catholic 
church will be destroyed. This includes the 
overthrow of those who are at the head of 
power, and the annihilation of her infallibility 
and of the attributes of God that have char- 
acterized her. All her splendor, her author- 
ity and power, may pass away and perish amid 
the thunderings and lightnings. 

Yet after this fearful pouring forth of the 
vials of wrath, millions of the members of that 
church, who are not involved in the crimson 
guilt of its leaders, may be converted to God. 
We may make a distinction between the Ru- 
lers and members of that church, where God 
in final retribution may make a difference. 

The night of unbelief, respecting the con- 
version of the Romanists, we trust " is far 
spent and the day is at hand." That day 
when the church will no longer limit the effi- 
6* 



66 SIGNS OF DANGER 

cacy of the atonement to the Protestant and 
the heathen world, but will believe that the 
blood of Christ can cleanse the Romanists as 
well as others from all sin. When the church 
shall believe this practically, it will form an 
era in her history as memorable in all future 
time as the Reformation in the 16th century. 
$.n era rich in blessings for the Protestant 
church, but thrice blessed for the Roman ; for 
her members will see her errors, will flee from 
them, and will rejoice in the hope of pardon 
through the blood of the Lamb. 

There is one reason why we may hope for 
the conversion of the Roman Catholic. He 
is not Gospel-hardened. His conscience has 
never been scorched by close contact with 
truth. He is ignorant of the operations of the 
Holy Spirit ; he has not heard whether there be 
any Holy Ghost. He has not lived in revivals 
of religion, and been awakened and relapsed 
until his last state is worse than the first. 
The doctrines of faith and repentance, that 
God uses in the awakening and in the conver- 
sion of sinners, have never been enforced on 
his conscience. The very word repentance 
is excluded from the Roman Catholic Bible, 
and penance inserted in its place. Of course 
they have no correct instruction on the subject 
of repentance and faith. Hence as soon as 
the truth is brought in contact with conscience 



AND OF PROMISE. 67 

the first inquiry is, "What shall I do to be 
saved?" 

Will not the reader, then, pray and labor 
for the conversion of Romanists ? They are 
not beyond the power of the grace of God. 
Their souls are as precious as the souls of 
other men. For their own sakes, and for the 
sake of the country, you should not cease to 
pray for them. 

Whatever evils are anticipated by the 
rapid increase of this foreign population in the 
United States, let it be solemnly remember- 
ed by all, that those evils can be prevented 
only by the conversion of these men. This 
is our last, our only hope for our country. 
" In vain is salvation hoped for from the hills 
and from the multitude of the mountains ; sal- 
vation is of the Lord." Why then should 
not united prayer be made by all Protestants 
for this object ? Why is it not as important to 
have concerts of prayer for the Romanists 
as for the seamen or the Jews, especially as 
they are a far greater portion of the human 
race? In what Christian church will such a 
concert be first established ? Oh ! when the 
day shall dawn that Christians of every name 
shall lift their fervent and believing supplica- 
tions to God that He will pour out His Spirit 
upon the Romanists in this country, then we 
anticipate the inquiry will be made, " Who 



68 SIGNS OF DANGER 

are these that fly as a cloud and as doves to 
their windows ?" And the answer will be 
returned, They are converts from the Roman 
church, obeying the voice from Heaven, 
" Come out of her, my people, that ye be not 
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not 
of her plagues." Rev. 18. 4. 

The time we trust is not distant, when many 
of the ignorant Romanists will say, as one 
recently said before a large assembly, " I bless 
God that ever I came to America. Here for 
the first time I have seen and read the Bible. 
This has led me, I trust, to the Lord Jesus 
Christ as my Saviour. And I wish now to ex- 
press my gratitude to Protestants, who sought 
me when I was in darkness, and put the word 
of God into my hands.' 7 

Who would not pray for such a day ? Who 
would not desire to shed light into the be- 
nighted minds of such men ? But how can 
this be done? It must be done by kind and 
constant and Christian personal efforts. Go 
to the Romanist who is walled around with 
prejudice as with a coat of mail ; go to him 
in the spirit of Christian love. Take a tract, 
or a book, or a Bible in your hand, with the 
spirit of prayer in your heart. Whatever may 
be your reception, return to your closet and 
pray. Should he refuse to receive the book 
or tract you may offer, do not on this account 



AND OF PROMISE. 69 

become angry nor be discouraged. Think of 
the deep darkness in which they have been 
trained, and of the deep-rooted prejudice 
against Protestants instilled into their minds 
from their earliest recollections, that can be 
overcome and removed only by a persevering 
course of kind treatment. Should your pa- 
tience be almost exhausted, or should you be 
on the verge of despair, then think of the 
dealings of God with you in time past. How 
averse you were to serious reading, or to per- 
sonal conversation with those who sought to 
address you on religious subjects. How often 
you resisted conviction, and how reckless of 
the consequences. Think of the long-suffer- 
ing and of the grace of God in your own 
preservation or conversion, and then exercise 
something of that forbearance towards them, 
that God has towards you. 

A word to American Protestants may close 
this appeal. 

Nearly seventy years have passed since the 
Declaration of Independence was sent forth to 
the world. Our government has stood the 
test of more than half a century. A vast in- 
crease of population and a course of unparal- 
leled prosperity has characterized this Re- 
public to the present time. The idea of fo- 
eign influence endangering our liberties has 



70 SIGNS OF DANGER 

gained a lodgment in very few minds in time 
past. But a change of times has come over 
us. Foreign influence has spread over this 
country to a much greater extent than has 
been anticipated. This is about to try the 
strength and the efficacy of our Constitution 
as it has never been tried. Time only can 
tell whether it will survive the fiery trial 
through which it is about to pass. 

There is we believe to be another trial of 
a more serious character : a trial of the faith 
and patience of the church of Jesus Christ 
in our land. The presence of millions of Ro- 
manists, and their efforts to establish Popery in 
this country, will furnish the severest test of 
the spirit of forgiveness and of love in the 
church. To see the " Man of Sin," in the 
person of his followers, calumniating the faith 
and the character of our Puritan ancestors — 
employing all the arts of Jesuitical cunning and 
sophistry to bring into contempt the Protest- 
ant religion, the foundation of all our civil and 
religious institutions — a religion that is dearer 
to us than life itself — all this is calculated to 
rouse the spirit of indignation in the heart of 
every descendant of the Pilgrims, and of 
every lover of his country. 

We also see Roman Priests invading the 
sacredness of the domestic circle — disturbing 
the peace, and order, and enjoyment of our 



AND OF PROMISE. 71 

families. Within a few weeks past, servants 
in Protestant families have in unusual num- 
bers refused to attend family worship. They 
have done this simultaneously in various 
places, which is demonstrative of secret and 
concerted action. The arrogance and ingrat- 
itude of the Priests in deranging the estab- 
lished order of Protestant families, to whom 
they and their people are so deeply indebted, 
furnish a severe test to the spirit of forbearance. 
Such things may be regarded as precursors 
of the severe trial of christian graces, that 
awaits the Church in this land of the Pil- 
grims. It will require more than common 
grace, to sustain Christian character, and to 
exhibit the spirit of our Divine Master, in 
such a furnace. 

To meet the coming crisis, the church is 
summoned to a deeper piety — to more vigor- 
ous faith in God — to a severer self-denial, and 
to a more heavenly exercise of love, than she 
has evinced since the time she was planted 
on these western shores. She is called to 
gird on the panoply of righteousness and to 
come forth, in the name of Jesus Christ, to 
this conflict. Let every one who calls him- 
self by the name of Christian, seek, by deep 
humiliation and fervent prayer, a preparation 
of heart for the events before him. Let him 



72 SIGNS OF DANGER, ETC. 

most solemnly believe that the Lord of Hosts 
must interpose and save, or the nation must 
perish. 

But let him not on this account yield either 
to the whisperings of despair, or to the slug- 
gishness of inaction. Instead of this, let the 
consciousness of entire dependence on God 
inspire every Christian with vigorous pur- 
poses of action, and with the confidence of 
final triumph. God is not only a King on 
his throne, holding in his own hand the hearts 
and destinies of all ; but he is the hearer of 
prayer, and extendeth mercy to those who 
keep his covenant. Fervent and united 
prayer for the Holy Spirit may essentially 
change the state of things, and the prospects 
before us. Pray then that he will not give 
his heritage as a prey " for the dragons 
of the wilderness." Confiding in his prom- 
ises, you may say, "In -the name of our 
God we will set up our banner," and inscribe 
on its broad canvass, " God is our refuge and 
strength, a very present help in trouble. — 
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth 
be removed, and though the mountains be 
carried into the midst of the sea — though the 
waters thereof roar and be troubled, though 
the mountains shake with the swelling there- 
of. Selah." 



m 



r/ °jJ 6 SIGNS 



OF DANGER AND OF PROMISE. 

DUTIES OE AMERICAN PROTESTANTS 
AT 1 THE PRESENT CRISIS. 



an ye not discern the signs of the times ?" — Jesus Christ. 
IV. HER" RTON, 

HE AMERICAN PROTE- . 



PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 



NEW-YORK: . 



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194 BROADWAY. 

1845. 



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